Loom for weaving tufted pile fabrics



Jan. 26, 1954 1. B. BASSINDALE LOOM FOR WEAVING TUF'TED PILE FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 31, 1950 3 b l n l a M m2 9m ww mm Q v Jan. 26, 1954 1. B. BASSINDALE LOOM FOR WEAVING TUFTED PILE FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31. 1950 Patented Jan. 26, 1954 LOOM FOR WEAVIN G TUFTED PILE FABRICS Isaac B. 'Bassindale, Grasscroft, near Oldham, England, assignor'to Flatt Brothers and Company Limited, Oldham, England Application May 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,187

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 3, 1949 3 Claims.

This invention .of improvements relating to looms for weaving tufted pile fabrics refers to spool Axminster carpet looms and in particular to the mechanism for controlling the unwinding of warp yarn from a beam during its passage to the shed-forming mechanism of a loom.

The invention has for its object the provision of electrically operated stop motion means brought into operation :when .the yarn beam 11stoif motion fails .to act, whereby .to :bring about immediate stoppage :of the loom.

In a spool Axminster carpet loom, yarn to form :thechain 'wai pand yarn to form theystulferwarp are led from :-.the respective :beams around a number .of shafts in itspassage'to theshedding mechanism.

In the case of yarnito form the .chainwarp the yarn is led from the zbeam first around aguide shaft, then around .a vsecond shaft rotatably mounted atthe rearof :theloom frame andthence around a further shaft journalled in brackets mounted fast .on the second-mentioned shaft. This third shaft, hereafter referred to as the chain-warp shaft, is :adapted .-to have .a rocking movement relatively to said second shaft and is under the influence .of ,weights, whereby to maintain a uniform constant tension on the .chain warp.

The beam, hereafter :referred to .as thechainwarp beam, is controlled by a let-off .motionlof the positive type operated by a worm engaging with a 'Worm wheel on'theabeamshaft and operating by a pawl-and-ratchetmechanism. Interposed between theratchetand the pawl is a flat plate .pivoted .on the worm shaft .and adapted when moved forward to littL-the pawl out of engagement with the teethofthe ratchet,

The said plate is .operatively connected :to the aforesaid chain-warp shaft, whereby when the chain-Warp shaft is rocked in a direction towards the front ofthe loom .underthe pull ofthe chain-warp as the yarn is drawn for-wardby the loom. take-up motion, the angular displacement of the chain-warpshaft causes said plate to'oe moved to permit the pawl to engagethenratchet wheel of the let-offmotlon, whereby acerta'in amount of chain-warp yarn 'is allowed to 'be wound oil the beam, the chain warp shaft-returning to initial position undertheinfluence of the before-mentionedweights maintaininga constant tension on the :warp.

Located adjacent to the chaimwarpzbeam is a further.beam,. hereafter;referred toasthe stufferwarp beam. Yarn from the stuifer-warp .beam si d-fir e lle aafl deishaiteadthanaround let-off motion of the 2 a furth r shaft, hereafter efe red to .as the stuffer-warp shaft, Which is iourna ed h aqkets mounted fast the first-mention d uide shaft and isadapted for rockin m v ment about said guide shaft in Similar manner to the chainwarp sha t. How ver. as the stuffer Warp i not s edd but merely passes strai ht th ou h to thefabric, the extent of rockin moyeme tpf 12 6 stuffer-warp shaft is not so pronounced as that of ,thechain-Warp shaft. Thestufier-warp ft is also influenced by Weights, whereby ,to 1113111? taina constant -tensionon the stuff erwarp. The tuffer warp be m a so a ts in similar manner to that of the chain-warp beam.

If, for any reason, the chain Warp let-off motion fails to function, the ta erllp motion exerting a pull on the chain Warp wi l roc th chain-warp shaft beyond its usual limit of movement until it is stoppedby abutment against the adjacent stuifer-Warp shaft and, as the let-off motion will not allow further yarn to be drawn off the chain-warp beam, the next movementof the take-up motion puts a considerable strain on the chain Warp, frequently resulting in br aka of the chain warp.

Similar conditions apply on failure Ofcllhfi Ltoff motion of the stutter-Warp beam.

To avoid this happening, ,I provide according to the invention an electric stop motion ,device adapted for operation by either thehlchainewarp shaft or the stuffer-warp shaft, whereby-should the let-off motion fail .to function properly, the loom is brought .to a standstill beforeany damage can result.

According to a practical embodiment of the invention, there is securedion ithe loom frame and adjacent to one end of .the rocker shaft carrying the movable chain-warp ,shaft,..an adjustable contact insulated from the :loom and forming one :terminal of a low-voltage electrical circuit, the other terminal of Whichisformedby any metallic partof the loom.

.A similar insulated contact in the same l wvoltage circuit maybe secured to theloom frame adjacent tooneendof themovablezstufferarp shaft. Preferablmnhowever, ;a single insulated contact plate is used to serve for ,both shafts.

Secured to the end of "the chain-Warp rocker shaft is a metal rplateror arm carrying aresilient contact terminal in register with the .firstementioned insulated terminal and forming a toooperatin terminal ,in th .lowevq tae electr ca circuit.

,A sim la pla W thiarssil en m tact ten-m nal is secured to the end of the stufier-warp rocker-shaft.

In the normal working of the loom, the letoif motion allows a predetermined length of chain warp to be drawn off from the beam; this amount is usually slightly in excess of the amount taken by the take-up motion and correct tension is maintained on the warp by the weighted movable shafts.

When the warp is drawn forward by the take-up motion, the chain-warpshaft is rocked about its pivot to a certain. degree under the pull of the chain-warp, but the respective electrical terminals do not make contact and the loom continues working.

If, however, the let-off motion ,should fail to function, the chain-warp shaft would be rocked to an undesirable extent about its pivot and this extra movement would bring the resilient contact terminal on the rocker shaft into engagement with the fixed contact terminal provided on the loom frame and so complete the aforesaid low-voltage circuit. Completion of said circuit serves to energise a relay, which in turn operates the starterto break the electric circuit of the driving motor and bring about stoppage of said motor, whereupon the loom is brought to a standstill before any damage is sustained.

- Similar conditions apply in regard to the stufier-warp shaft.

The invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which only so much of the carpet loom is shown as is necessary for a clear understanding of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary end view showing the invention applied to a spool Axminster carpet loom; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewthrough the line IL-II of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a. diagram of the electrical circuit of the'electric stop motion; Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views of a detail part later to be described.

-.The same reference characters indicate cor.- responding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figs. 1 and'2, indicates the chain warp shaft journalled at opposite ends in brackets, one of which is indicated at H, fast on a shaft 12 journalled at opposite ends in bearings, one of which is indicated at H3, in the frame M of the loom. l5 indicates a guide shaft secured at opposite ends in bearings, one of which is indicated at 16, in the loom frame l4. 11 indicates the chain warp which is led from a chain warp beam, not shown, around the guide shaft l5, around the rocker shaft [2, thence overthe chainwarp shaft [3 to the loom take-up motion, not shown. The direction of traverse of the chain warp is indicated by the arrow points X-X.

The chain warp shaft It is under the influence of weights, not shown, attached to the rocker shaft 12, whereby the chain warp shaft tends to rock in the direction indicated by the arrow I, Fig. 1, so maintaining the chain warp H in constant tension.

I8 indicates the stuffer warp shaft journalled at opposite ends in brackets, one of which is indicated at l9, fast on a rocker shaft 20, journalled at opposite ends in bearings, one of which is indicated at 2|, in the loom frame l4.

22 indicates the stuffer warp which is led from a stufier warp beam, not shown, around necked arm 25 forming the rocker shaft 20, over the stuffer warp shaft I8 and to the loom take-up motion, not shown. The direction of traverse of the stuffer warp 22 is indicated by the arrow points Y-Y, Fig. 1.

The stufier warp shaft [8 is under the influence of weights, not shown, on a rod 23 suspended from the hook-shaped end 24 of a swanan extension of the bracket l9, whereby the stuffer warp shaft [8 tendsto rock in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, Fig. 1, so maintaining the stuffer warp 22 in constant tension.

Secured to the loom frame I l is an adjustable contact plate 26 insulated from the loom frame 14 by a block 2! of insulating material interposed between the plate 26 and the loom frame I4. The plate 26 is secured to the frame 14 by screws 28 penetrating insulated bushes 29 inserted in holes in the plate 23 between the nuts 30 of the screws 28 and the contact plate 28. 23 indicates an electrical lead secured at one end to the contact plate 23 by a screw 29 and at the opposite end to the transformer of the electric stop motion device, later to be described.

As before stated, the contact plate 2'5 forms one contact in a low-voltage electrical circuit, the other terminal of which is formed by any metallic part of the loom frame 54, through the medium of one or other of two contact terminals carried by metal plates or arms on the respective rocker shafts of the loom.

Secured to the end of the rocker shaft I2 is a metal arm or plate 3| carrying a resilient terminal screw 32 in register with the contact plate 26 and forming a co-operating terminal in the low-voltage circuit of the electric stop motion.

Secured to the end of the rocker shaft 29 is a further metal plate or arm 33 carrying a resilient terminal screw 34 in register with the contact plate 26 and also forming a co-operating terminal in the said low-voltage circuit. Each terminal screw 32, 34 is normally held in advanced position by a spring interposed between the head of the respective screw and the respective plate 3| or 33.

As previously described, if the let-off motion should fail to function, the chain warp. shaft H) would be rocked to a greater extent than normal due to the pull of the chain warp and this extra movement would bring the terminal 32 into contact with the contact plate 26 and complete the aforesaid low-voltage circuit to bring the electric stop motion into operation. I

Similarly, if the stuifer-warp shaft I8 should move to an undesirably greater extent, the terminal 34 would be moved into contact with the contact plate 26 to complete the aforesaid lowvoltage circuit to bring 'the'electric stop motion into operation. 1

The sequence of operations of the electric stop motion will be described with reference to the diagram shown in Fig. 3, in which B indicates a transformer for low (safe) voltage; C indicates a trip relay with one normally closed contact indicated at C D indicates a relay with two normally open contacts D D E indicates a trip contact on the loom; F indicates a change-over push unit actuated by the loom starting handle, having four terminals, F F F and F G indicates a reset button on the loom; and H indicates a signal lamp.

The operation of the electric stop motion is as follows: .7 L h J With the 100111 runningnormally, e11 the'contacts and relays are as shown in the diagram, Fig. 3.

When the chain-warp shaft it, or the stutter- Warp shaft 23, is moved unduly and the terminal 32, or the terminal 3%, makes contact with the contact plate 23 to close the low-voltage electric circuit, i. e., making contact at E, and thus energising the relay coil D and closing contacts D D contact 13 provides an alternate path for electric current through the relay coil D, making the relay coil self-retaining and now independent of the contact at E. The contact D being closed provides a circuit t1 rough the contacts F F and relay coil C, thus breaking contact C which causes the circuit to the electromotor to be opened automatically, and de-energises a solenoid on the loom, whereby to trip the starting handle.

The starting handle, which is spring-loaded, thus returns to the off position and in so doing releases the clutch between the electromotor and the loom and applies a mechanical brake, at the same time also releasing the change-over push unit F, breaking contact between F and F and bridging F and F The relay coil C is now tie-energised and C returns to normal closed position. An alternative circuit then flows through contacts F F lamp H and contact D thus indicating the cause of the stoppage.

The driving motor can be switched on if required and the loom inched at the operators will, but, if the starting handle is moved to full on position before removal of the cause of stoppage, the stop-motion will again act.

Having rectified the cause of the stoppage, the operator can then press the re-set button G, and the loom is again ready for running.

The means for moving the starting handle quickly from on position to oil position are shown diagrammatically in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, 555 indicates the I starting handle shown in the on position in a notch 36 in a quadrant 3i, see Fig. 5. 38 indicates a solenoid carried in suitable position on the loom. Connected by a swivel as to the core 43 of the solenoid 38 is a bell-crank lever El, the opposite end of which is connected to an adjustable connecting rod 62. The connecting rod a2 is connected at its opposite end by a lever 33 to a knock-off lever t t pivoted on the same shaft 45 as the lever $3, the free end of the knock-on lever c4 lying adjacent to the starting handle 35 when in the on position. When the stop motion is actuated as previously described, the solenoid 38 is de-energised, whereupon the core ll} drops and through the link 39 rocks the bell-crank lever ti which in turn pushes the connecting rod in the direction of the arrow Z to rock the lever 43 and with it the knock-off lever 4:3 which, moving quickly forward under the influence of a spring 45 in operative association with the connecting rod 42, knocks the starting handle 35 out of the notch 36.

The starting handle 35, which is spring-infiuenced, moves rapidly to the off position and releases the driving clutch between the electromotor and the loom and applies a brake to bring the loom to a standstill.

I claim:

1. The combination with a yarn beam let-ofi motion for a spool Axminster carpet loom having a frame, a driving motor, a chain-warp shaft and a rocker shaft therefor, a stuffer-warp shaft and a rocker shaft therefor, a clutch, a starting handle and a brake, of electric stop motion means embodying a low voltage electric circuit, said means including a fixed metal contact plate, an insulation piece interposed between said metal plate and the loom frame, insulation bushes in said metal plate and screws screwing through said insulation bushes to secure said metal plate to the loom frame, whereby the metal plate is held to but insulated from the loom frame, the metal plate forming one contact terminal in the low-voltage circuit of the electric stop motion means, a metal plate secured to the end of the rocker shaft of the chain-warp shaft of the loom, a contact terminal screw slidably mounted in said last-mentioned plate, a spring surrounding said screw between the head of the screw and the said metal plate, a further metal plate secured to the end of the rocker shaft of the stutter-warn shaft of the loom, a contact terminal screw slidably mounted in said last mentioned plate, and a spring surrounding said screw between the head of the screw and the metal plate, either of said terminal screws serving as the second terminal in the said low-voltage circuit.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1, further including a spring influencing the starting handle for operating the clutch to the driving motor, a spring for returning said starting handle to the ofi position, a notched quadrant, a solenoid, a bell-crank lever connected at one end to said solenoid, a connecting rod attached at one end to the end of the bell-crank lever remote from the solenoid, a spring attached at one end to said connecting rod and at its opposite end to the loom frame, a pivoted knockofl lever positioned adjacent to said starting handle when said starting handle is in the on position in the quadrant, and a lever between said connecting rod and said knock-off lever, whereby when the let-oil motion fails to function so permitting undue movement of the chainwarp shaft or the stutter-warp shaft, the terminal on and movable with the respective rocker shaft of the chain-warp shaft and. the stufferwarp shaft being brought into contact with the fixed terminal on the loom frame so completing the low-voltage electric circuit of the electric stop motion means to actuate the stop motion means, whereby the solenoid is de-energised and through the lever system the knock-off lever is caused to knock the starting handle out of the notch in the quadrant, whereupon the starting handle under the influence of its spring moves quickly to the off position to release the driving clutch and apply the brake to bring the loom to a standstill.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, in which the low-voltage electric circuit includes a transformer for low voltage, a trip relay with one normally closed contact, a relay with two normally open contacts, a change-over push unit actuated by the loom starting handle, having four terminals, a reset button on the m, and a signal lamp.

I. B. BASSINDALE.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

